How to Teach a Baby Sign Language

You probably won't expect your infant to start telling you what they want verbally for a while. Sign language, however, often makes it possible for a small child to communicate their needs to you long before they can say them. With lots of patience and persistence, you can alleviate the frustration of trying to guess if your child is hungry or wants a new diaper, or is just tired and wants a nap.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Lots of patience (that you probably already have)
• A book of basic child signs, preferably a board book you can share with your child

1. Start early. As a matter of fact, you can start communicating with signs as soon as you bring your new baby home.
2. Purchase a book of basic signs for children. There are plenty of options out there, but to start you only need a board book with the basics.
3. Start early. As a matter of fact, you can start communicating with signs as soon as you bring your new baby home.
4. Pick two or three signs that are simple and you need to express to your child often. Good ones to start out with are the signs for diaper, milk, more, Daddy, Mommy, eat, sleep, bath or any other word you like and use often.
5. Look your child in the eye and say the words while you are signing them. For example, if baby needs to be changed, look in his or her eyes, do the sign for diaper and say "do you need a new diaper?" Or if they are hungry, say "would you like some milk?" while signing milk.
6. Be patient and persistent. Infants are incredibly smart, and will understand what you are saying and signing long before they can mimic you.
7. Pay attention to your child's responses and reactions. Before you know it, your child will respond by doing the sign or their own version of it (be sure to let your child do their version of the sign... their ability to sign will grow just like their verbal communication skills.)
   
   Some babies are able to start copying signs as early as six months, but all children have their own timetable for what they can do.
8. Once your child begins doing a couple signs, expand the words that you sign and say to your child. At this point, you can also introduce more fun signs like different animals, or even teach them to say please and thank you.
   
   If you think of a word you would like to know the sign for, take advantage of the Internet. There are plenty of sites out there with ASL (American Sign Language) words with pictures and diagrams.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to be patient and never compare your child's abilities to others.
• Read the sign book to your children like any other book.
• Don't forget to read to your child every day, and when you come across a page with a sign you know, express this to your child.
• Your local library may offer a signing class for children. Take advantage of this (free!) opportunity.
• Find a free website with lots of signs.
• Have fun with your child, and be sure to write down the date of their first sign, just like their first word!